Ebbsfleet striker Aaron McLean could be back before the end of the season.

The 33-year-old has been out since September with an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained in the 3-0 win at Bishop's Stortford.

Fleet boss Daryl McMahon said: "He is doing really well. He has been joining in training on non-contact terms but we won't rush it as it was a serious injury.

"I'd imagine he will be back before the end of the season if there are no setbacks.

"It's one that is day by day, sometimes you sail through the injury process and get hit by something else. At the minute he is moving along really well."

McLean was ruled out initially for up to nine months but he has made impressive progress and has joined in with pre-match warm-ups at the Fleet recently.

"He is ahead of schedule," added McMahon. "He is so fit and so determined to get back.

"He is a strong personality and a positive person. We'll see what happens over the coming weeks but it won't be soon, though."

Former Grays, Peterborough and Hull forward McLean joined the Fleet in January 2016 from Barnet. He has seven goals in 21 Fleet appearances to his name.